Conveyer



June 16, 1942. R. E. BRIGGS CONVEYER Filed Nov. 7,1940

E, am.

Patented June 1.6, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVEYER Robert E. Briggs, Columbus, Ohio, assigner to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, acorporationof Ohio ApplicationNovember 7, 1940,'s`e'ria1 No. 364,673

(C1. iss- 189) 9 Claims.

lower return run eiciently guided along an elon- T gated support instead of over sprocket idlers and thereby enable the overall height of the conveyer to be lowered, thus lessening the height to which material must be manually lifted for entry into the conveyer trough along which the chain conveyer has its conveying path of travel.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of block links for sprocket chains provided with bearing surfaces of maximum area for .movement over guide plates.

A further object of the linvention is the provision of one-piece block links for endless spreek et chains with one side extended into a continuous bearing surface in a single plane for Contact through a wide area with a return run guide having upper nat surfaces.

More particularly it is the object of the present invention to extend one side of each of the end barrels of a block link sprocket chain so as to provide at surfaces in a single plane also extending through fiat surfaces of the side bars or side straps connecting the end barrels of the block link.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a conveyer particularly adapted for use in lumber and pulpwood industries for conveying legs and planks;

Fig, 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the single piece block links;

Fig, 4 is an elevational view of the block link shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the linef55 vof Fig. 3 looking in the direction r of the arrows; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but including a modification.

in the accompanying drawing the invention is embodied inv a conveyer which is particularly Ain' a portable frame I6. y be provided f-or driving the chain in the direction adapted for use in the pulpwood industry for conveying logs and planks. The chain 'I is of the endless type comprising the single piece block linkss, 8 and the connecting side bars 9, 9. The block links, as shown in Fig. 3, each comprises end barrels In, I 0 connected by the side straps II, II. The 'end barrels Ii), I0 are provided with cylindrical transverse apertures I2, I2 therethrough. Registering with the ends of these apertures are apertures in the side bars 9 to receive the pins or .pintles I3, I3. LThe pins or lpintles I3, I?,Y may each be provided with an enlarged head at one end and a transverse cotter receiving aperture at the other end, or such pins orpintles I3, I3 may each be provided with an ,enlarged head atone end and be riveted at the other end. y

As shown in Fig. l, the endless sprocket chain 'I is guided around the sprocket I4 mounted on the shaft I5, the ends of which are journaled Suitable apparatus may of the arrow II6 of Fig 1. y

substituted for the connecting links 9, or added to the sides thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, at intei-vals along the chain, as shown in Fig. l, are pairs of nights or spurs I'I, I'I having vertical faces I 8, I8 at their leading ends for the purpose cfV engaging logs or planks to be conveyed along the trough I9. This trough may be composed of side wajlls 20, 20 inclined downwardly and inwardly as shown in Fig. 2 and connected by the horizontal bottom plate 2l. As the chain travels forwardly -in the Aconveying direction indicated by the arrow H6, the bottom of the chain 1 travels over the upper horizontal surface of the bottom plate 2| while the logs or planks lie on the chain. between the side Walls 20, 20 and between one pair of flights I1, I1 and the next adjacent pair of nights. The pair of nights, Il, I'I shouldV be spaced apart along the chain a sufficient distance to permit the log or plank to lie on the chain throughout itsfull length.

The'return` run 1 ofthe endless sprocket chain is guided over the channel iron support 22', the forward end of which is curved downwardly vat 22 as shown in Fig. 1. The upper horizontal surface of they channel iron support is provided with a-wear plate 23 preferably of materialsofter than that of the faces of the chain links which engage the wear plate.

The channel iron support 22 is rigidly connected to the frame I6 in fixed relation therewith. As shown in Fig. 2, the nights I1, I'I straddle the channel iron support 2.2, and Vthereby prevent the return run 1' from moving laterally off the wear plate 23. However, the chain is nexible laterally to a certain extent between each pair of nights I1, I1 and the next succeeding pair.' The width of each surface 25 is preferably substantially equal to the diameter of the barrel, and is generally at least as wide as the diameter of the pin I3 or pin opening I2.

Pulpwood handling equipment is usually embodied in a large storage system of a, modern pulp and paper mill, and the traveling conveyer supporting frame is wheel supported on parallel rails so as to be movable to various positions, each rail being engaged by a pair of wheels. Fig. 2 shows the wheels 3|, 3| supporting the frame `I6 on the rail diagrammatically shown at 32.

During operation of the conveyer apparatus, the endless chain conveyer is frequently started and stopped, and the driving apparatus is arranged to suddenly start the conveyer chain at full speed. This results in jerking the chain so suddenly that the links between the pairs of nights I1, I1 will be swerved laterally off the wear plate 23 to some extent, with the result that the ordinary chains are unduly worn along certain lines extending transversely of the barrels of the block links inside of the connecting side straps or bars. l

Heretofore in pulpwood handling equipment embodying portable conveyer apparatus of the endless chain type, the under or return run has been guided over spaced-apart sprockets. This necessitated such overall height as to raise the sprockets well above the ground level so that they would not gather Vgritty material from the waste on the ground and carry such gritty material upwardly to the chain causing undue wear of the latter when traveling over such guide sprockets. Furthermore, the sagging lengths of chain between guide sprockets might engage such waste material, gather grit such as sand and cause undue wear of the chain links when engaged by the sprocket teeth.

The overall height of the conveyer apparatus must be sufficient to provide ample space above ground for the guide sprockets each of which is located in the vertical plane of the conveyer chain and below the same. Such overall height makes the work of the attendants arduous because of the height to which the logs or planks must be lifted to introduce them into the conveyer trough.

By the use of my improvements, however, the overall height of the conveyer apparatus including the conveyer trough may be reduced to a minimum. By the elimination of the lower run guiding sprockets and the use instead of the stationary elongated guide 22, the lower run may be brought much nearer the ground level and the height of the frame I6 materially decreased even when wheel supported on spaced rails. Furthermore, the action of guiding sprockets in picking up gritty material and carrying the same to the conveyer chain causing undue vwear of the latter is avoided by my improvements.

In fact the Wheels 3|, 3| may be omitted and the frame I6 mounted in stationary position on the ground, so long as the sprocket I4 is spaced wear plate 23 is so widely and evenly distributed that the chain is not injured and a long life ls assured. Moreover, such block links 8 as those shown in the accompanying drawing may be made practically dust proof at the pintle connections, thus being well ntted for traveling along and over gritty material on the ground surface.

In order to obtain the wide and even distribution of the wear between the chain 1 and the plate 23, I have provided those sides of the barrels I0, I0 traveling along the wear plate 23, with nat surfaces 25,25 so as to be in the same plane as the flat surfaces II', II' of the side straps or bars I I, I I. It should also be noted that while the barrels I0, III between the side straps II, II are semi-cylindrical at 26, 26 on one side of the pintle opening I2, I2, they are in approximate rectangular block formation on the opposite side, as shown in Fig. 4. That is to say, the inner opposing faces 21, 21 of the end barrels I0, I0 are approximately at right angles to the plane which extends through the continuous nat surfaces 25, 25 and II', I|'. In the same manner, the faces 28, 28 are formed approximately at right angles to the faces 25, 25. By thus providing the nat rectangular opposing faces 21, 21 and the nat rectangular faces 28, 28, the area of each of the nat faces 25, 25, is increased. Consequently when the under run 1 of the chain moves partially off the guide plate 23, there will always remain in contact with such plate 23 a large area `of bearing surface including one of the surfaces 25, 25, and this will follow whether the chain moves laterally to one side or the other off the plate 23.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the curved lines 29, 29 illustrate that the lateral surfaces of the side straps II, II are cut away or depressed so as to provide ring bearing surfaces for the connecting side bars 9, 9. The sprocket I4 is of the ordinary type and may be used in connection with an endless sprocket chain embodying my improvements because as shown in section in Fig. 1 the semicylindrical surfaces 2G, 25 may readily articulate with the teeth of such sprocket I4.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modincation in that in addition to the nat surfaces 25, 25 on one side of the chain, I have provided flat surfaces 25 on the opposite sides of the end barrels which are connected by the side straps II". The nat surfaces 25 are each in a single plane which extends through the surface 30 of the same side of straps II. In the form shown in Fig. 6 the end barrels are approximately square in crosssection, with the pintle openings I2 extending through both end barrels. lWith the form shown in Fig. 6 the ordinary sprocket I4 can not be used, but a special sprocket must be provided so that there will be proper articulation between the driving teeth of the sprocket and the end barrels which are approximately square in crosssection. However, the form shown in Fig. 6 has the advantage that the wear of the chain will be reduced where it travels over the bottom plate 2| because of the larger area of contact between the bottom plate 2| and the faces of the block links which slide thereover, it being evident that one side of the chain slides over the bottom plate 2| and the other side of the chain slides over the wear plate 23 of the channel guide 22.

In an ordinary chain the side bars have a width greater than the diameters of the end barrels. If such a chain traveled along the wear plate 23 and moved laterally therefrom to a limited extent so the side bars at one side of the chain run olf the plate the barrels would be let down to the edge of the plate 23, and such action would result in undue wear at such ends of the barrels. This can easily be understood by assuming the chain of Fig. 1 traveling while upside down and observing that the semi-cylindrical portions 26 of the barrels lil are spaced from the adjacent edges of the links ll one of which rides on plate 23 and the other of which runs off the plate 23.

In fact the flat surfaces 25, 25 and il', il all in a single plane distribute the wear so widely as to enable the flights Il, Il to be substituted for the side bars 9. In that event the channel 22 and the wear plate may be no wider than the width of the block links 8, the latter being the only links then riding on the plate 23 except when the chain between pairs of flights l1, Il bends laterally thereby carrying the lower edges of the side bars onto the plate 23.

In the form shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 and in the form shown in Fig. 6, internal recesses 3i', 3| are provided for receiving lubricant for that portion of the pin or pintle I3 which extends through the openings I2 or l2.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened by the claims hereto appended, and I therefore Wish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A sprocket chain link having end barrels each semi-cylindrical on one side and having a iiat bearing surface on the other side with a width approximately equal to the diameter of the barrel and adapted to bear on the slide over a flat supporting surface for the return run thereof.

2. A block link for sprocket chains comprising spaced end barrels connected by side straps with the barrels rounded on one side to engage sprocket teeth and attened on the other side to form a bearing surface for engaging a flat guiding surface. such flat surface of each barrel extending over approximately the full width and length thereof.

3. A chain link comprising end barrels connected by side straps with the barrels provided with flat surfaces in a plane parallel to the direction of travel of the link and with flat rectangular leading and trailing rectangular surfaces extending transversely of the link.

4. A chain link comprising end barrels connected by side straps with each barrel provided with fiat leading and trailing surfaces extending transversely of the link and a connecting flat surface in a plane parallel to the direction of travel of the link.

5. An integral block link for sprocket chains comprising spaced apart end barrels connected by integral side straps with each barrel provided with leading and trailing dat rectangular surfaces extendng transversely of the chain and connecting fiat surfaces parallel to the direction of travel of the chain, such connecting flat surfaces being in a single plane which also coincides with dat surfaces on the straps, the construction being such that the flat surfaces are adapted to engage a plane guide of a width equal to the width of the link and remain in the same plane although shifted laterally from such guide to a limited extent.

6. A block link for sprocket chains comprising spaced-apart end barrels connected by side straps to form a rectangular opening between flat surfaces on one face of the link extending over approximately the full length of the link, each barrel having flat leading and trailing faces extending transversely of the link and connected by the aforesaid flat surfaces.

7. A rectangular integral block link having end barrels connected by integral side straps with openings extending transversely of the link through said barrels to receive hinge pins, said barrels being each semi-cylindrical on one face to engage the teeth of a sprocket and each provided on the other face with a fiat surface in a single plane which also extends through flat faces on the side straps, and each of said barrels having flat rectangular leading and trailing faces extending transversely of the link and connecting the said semi-cylindrical surfaces to the flat surfaces, the distance between the end limits of the flat surfaces being equal approximately to the full length of the link.

8. A chain adapted to be driven by a sprocket and having a link formed of rigidly attached end barrels and side bars, and interconnecting means including interconnecting pins extending through apertures in said end barrels, said barrels and side bars having flat bearing surfaces lying in a single plane and adapted to bear on and slide over a supporting flat guideway during the return run of said chain, the bearing areas of said end barrels being as wide as the diameters of the interconnecting pins.

9. A chain adapted to be driven by a sprocket and having a link formed of rigidly attached end barrels and side bars, said barrels having chain connecting pin apertures therethrough and flat bearing surfaces lying in a single plane and adapted to bear on and slide over a supporting flat guideway during the return run of said chain, said at bearing surfaces being as wide as the diameter of said apertures.

ROBERT E. BRIGGS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION;

Patent No. 2, 286,666. June l6, 1913.2.

ROBERT E BRIGGS.

It is hereby certified that error appears lin the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first eolumn, lines 5 to 8 inclusive, strike out The width of each surface 25 is preferably substantially ecpialA to the diameter of the barrel, and is generally atleast as wide as the diameter of the pin l5 or pinopening 12.", a-nd insert the same after the period and before "In", same page, second column, line 25;.page 5, 'first column, line LO, for "the slide" read --and slide; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the oase in the Patent Office. i u

signed and v@Lef-ned this 11th day of August, A. D. 19m.

. Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting,` Commissioner of Patents. 

